It never ends

[ScottR]

Sold 31 of those slings, one Ebayer gave negative feedback and reported the slings as reproductions.

[Mike Henning]

Over the weekend, I was playing a softball tournament in Turlock, CA and was wondering if I should have stopped by Riverbank on my way home.

I did just that about 7 years ago and had an interesting visit and your of George's garage. Didn't buy anything tho.

Mike

[BHP]

Sold 31 of those slings, one Ebayer gave negative feedback and reported the slings as reproductions.

...and the price keeps going up. The party never ends! How do you sleep at night?

[ScottR]

BHP, I am not the seller, LOL.
Just reporting what he sold and one ebay buyer reported them as fakes.

Scott

[Bill Hollinger]

Mike, you could have stopped, I have and he does not accept business at the door. Wouldn't have done you any good. He used to sell at shows but I don't think he does that anymore. Probably afraid he'll get the excrement kicked out of him for what he has sold over the years. He only sells on line now from what I've heard.

I just wish old George would answer some of these claims on a forum. Oh wait, he's been booted from them all!

[Harlan (Deceased)]

The authenticy of the sling was not in question. It was such a poor repro I thought anyone would know it at a glance. There are some fairly good repros these days that at least look good in photos (This was not one of them)
The better repros look OK in photos, but when you see one installed on a carbine in person, they stick out like a sore thumb and at best cheapen the presentation.

- Weave wrong, weight of material wrong, color wrong, hardware wrong, new smell, 'age' not there. (Even a mint stored sling shows some age)
It's the same with most any item that's purported to be WWII vintage. Does it have 'that smell', very fine dust embedded in fabric that can't be faked, etc.

Place an authentic 'C-tip' next to even a 'good repro' and the evidence is unmistakable.

Note: The so called 'stock pouches' have also been reproduced for many years by Asian countries and finding these slings along with brand new stock pouches means nothing. (These 'new' stock pouches of wrong weight material and color look just as silly on the the stock of a vintage carbine)

I'm concerned that there are so many new carbine owners because of the release of the latest CMP carbines who are being taken advantage of by believing ads. It's sad a cheap $5.00 knock off can be passed off as the real thing by a dishonest person to make a few dollars. Authentic C-tip slings are very hard to come by.

The two slings in the middle are authentic.


On the right is one of the better repros, but next to authentic slings the difference is obvious. Especially when you hold it and feel the web.


Charlie (painter777) posted a faked Rockola 'Type I' barrel band with fake maker marking. These repro bands with no maker markings usually retail for $20, but the faked ones this seller sells have been going for over $100, and sometimes much more. Here's an example of a real one next to one of his endless supply of rare 'Rockola Type I' bands.


Trying to warn new collectors of the preponderance of all the fake items is not self gratifying at all. The experienced collectors are only attempting to educate new collectors in hope they will not be taken advantage of. Most of these new collectors will discover they've been duped when they become more knowledgeable, and many become so disgusted their enthusiasm in this hobby is ruined. I've always had a difficult time when someone comes to my table and shows me an item they bought I know for fact is a common repro or has been altered to appear it is something it's not. Their reactions are often the same -
They become angry and display denial, even if you prove it to them. I know it's weak, but I've gotten to the point I seldom tell anyone unless they specifically ask. I don't enjoy hurting another person's feelings.

I'd much rather prevent a new collector from getting taken in the first place if at all possible. It's the same for the other gentlemen here who take time to present obvious fakes. They aren't trying to show they're smarter than a newer collector or anything like that - They're trying to help someone to not make some of the costly mistakes they've made.

I couldn't help but respond to this "chain", but wanted to put in my 2 cents worth.

While I am sure the wholesale criticism of items is self-gratifying to some of you, why don't you provide a positive aspect to this topic by explaining to us "non-experts" how to spot "fakes" or mis-represented pieces?

A fake is something that is deliberately intended to misrepresent an original items.

A reproduction fall into a different category, as they are often represented as originals, but usually not marked or manufactured to the original standards. "At the Front" and "APCO" are examples of vendors who demonstate good character by Marking their items so as to id them as repros.

The carbine slings you reference below are not reproductions, but manufactured during and after WWII by an allied country. Folks who were involved in bringing them into the US, from northern Thailand several years ago believed them to be "reverse" lend lease as they were found warehoused with unissued 2-cell "Boyt 42"-marked carbine pouches and other unissued USGI gear. All the US items were packaged in period shipping crates, much of the canvas and metal/brass showed considerable signs of poor storage. These definitely do not fall into the category of fake or reproduction.

Bill Ricca has lots of experience with lend lease items as he has had many of them offered for sale since at least the early 1980s. Perhaps Bill can shed light on the slings.

[BHP]

BHP, I am not the seller, LOL.
Just reporting what he sold and one ebay buyer reported them as fakes.

Scott

Scott, I was 99.9% sure you were not the seller. Just adding a bit of levity. Even after I called them fakes (oops, cats out the bag), people kept purchasing at ever higher prices and giving A+ ratings. After paying shipping both ways, it was getting pretty costly and ended up with a well used 60's sling. Went with Mr Ricca in the end, which is what I shoulda done in the first place!

[Harlan (Deceased)]

It's good to see some humor on the carbine forum BHP -
It's been getting too serious lately and this is supposed to be a fun hobby!

You can't go wrong with Bill Ricca (JMO)
He knows what he's talking about and he'll never pass off a faked part as authentic.

[davfink]

i have a question on CAFDFW's post.

i just picked up about 3 of those slings in your first pic, middle right(or #3) for about 10$. and thought they were fake.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Post a detailed photo of what you have. Like I said, some of the repros are getting better.
If you got three authentic slings for $10 each you stole them.